Red House

Updated 5 October 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

Our inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Red House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager and three support workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care and support records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 5 October 2019

About the service

Red House is a residential care home providing personal care to five adults with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and/or mental health needs at the time of the inspection. The service is registered to support up to eight people.

The service has been developed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. The registered manager told us up to seven people could be accommodated as the eighth room was small and used as a staff sleep room. The house is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the building design fitted into the residential area and was in keeping with other large domestic homes in the area. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom or cameras outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear a uniform when supporting people at home and when accessing the wider community with them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt safe and staff treated them with respect and dignity. People were comfortable and relaxed when interacting with staff and they were happy to ask them for help or support. Staff were trained to meet their needs and had been recruited safely. Risks to people were managed through person-centred support plans, referral to health professionals and regular reviews of their needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. When restrictions were needed to maintain people’s safety, for example, when going out into the community, the least restrictive approach was taken. Arrangements made on people’s behalf were made in line with Mental Capacity Act requirements when people could not consent to decisions about their care

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. People reviewed their wishes and support needs regularly, with the staff member they chose to work with. Staff were committed to helping people achieve their goals and to ensuring people’s disabilities did not prevent them from living a fulfilled and happy life. People were supported to participate in activities they enjoyed and were interested in.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent. People who wanted to work or attend college were supported to do so and staff assisted people with developing life skills, such as cooking. People enjoyed regular visits to their local shop and their favourite places to eat or have drinks out. They had formed relationships with members of their local community through this regular contact. People were supported to maintain relationships with others who were important to them.

The service was caring and person-centred. People using the service and the staff supporting them, were valued and listened to. The provider and registered manager understood their responsibilities and monitored the service to ensure any improvements needed were carried out. The registered manager worked openly and transparently with outside agencies.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.co.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was ‘Good’ (published 16 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.